Punjab Newsline | Washington
US President Donald Trump has announced a 10% additional tariff on imports from India as part of a broader trade action targeting products linked to forced labour. The decision, taken under Section 301 of the US Trade Act, applies to 17 countries and comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
The new tariff will come into effect on Friday, July 24. According to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), the measure is aimed at countries that have failed to take adequate action against the import of goods produced through forced labour.
India has been placed in the lower tariff bracket of 10%, while some other countries will face a higher 12.5% additional tariff. The action follows a review of nearly 60 US trading partners ordered by President Trump.
Along with India, the 10% tariff has also been imposed on Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Argentina, Cambodia, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United Kingdom. Several other countries will be subject to a 12.5% tariff.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the move is intended to address human rights violations and unfair trade practices. President Trump stated that the tariff would encourage the affected economies to strengthen enforcement against forced labour and related trade restrictions.
The latest measure marks another significant shift in US trade policy, with potential implications for exporters from India and other affected countries.
